Improvement in devices for raising sunken vessels



UNITED STATES BEIGE.

THOMAS COLLIER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,742, dated October 10, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l'IHonms GoLLnzR, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Raising Sunken Vessels 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for raising sunken vessels; and consists in the construction of certain parts, as hereinafter described and as pointed out in the claim.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a sunken vessel and side elevation of hose and pumping apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side view of a section of the hull, showing the manner of packing a hole through the side. Fig. 3 is a section, showing the manner of closing a hatch. Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section, showing the manner of closing a hatch and introducing the hose for pumping out the water.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspond ing parts.

The hatches will be stopped or closed by two pieces, A B, of strong plank, rabbeted at the edges, which meet together at O, and covered on the upper surface by sheets D of India-rubber or other suitable packing, one of which sheets is adjusted between the parts forming the rabbeted joint, while the other laps over the joint, as shown, the said plank being inserted through the hatch below the timbers, and clamped up to them and the framing E of the hatch by bolts F connected to them by eyebolts and passing through cross-pieces G temporarily inserted in notches cut in the sides of the frame E. But in the case of the hatch through which the hose H for pumping out the water is passed the bolts F are made longer, and supported by bridges K spanning the hatch, one near each end. The planks A B for this hatch will have short tubes L permanently fixed in them, projecting at each side, and screw-threaded or otherwise xed for attaching the hose, which will be in two sections, one extending below into the hold, with a nozzle or strainer J at the end, and the other upward to the pumping apparatus M, to be adapted for pumping water out and air in. The two pieces of plank are employed for closing the hatches, because they may be admitted through the hatches, while only one piece wide enough for the purpose could not be. The stop-cocks a in the tubes L are employed toclose them in case, by any accident, the tubes above become ruptured, in which condition the water would iiow into the hold. The cocks will be rigged with cords and pulleys or other apparatus adapted to work them from the deck of the vessel above. The smoke-pipe, or the hole through the deck therefor in case the pipe is carried away, will be closed by a sheet of India rubber, N, placed over it, as shown, and a closed sack, O, placed over it, and made fast to the deck by a ring or cleats fastened down over the edge in any way to hold the sheet and sack in place when filled with air forced in through a light iieXible hose, Q, leading up to the top, which forces the said sheet and the bottom of the sack down upon the deck and closes the opening water-tight, the top of the sack being prevented from rising by cords R rigged over it, as shown. Instead of having the sheet N extend over the hole and the sack it may be merely in the form of a ring of suitable width, with the inner edge attached to the sack in any manner to hold it and exclude the water. The sack may have a short tube attached to it for admitting water to sink it to the vessel for adjusting thereon, after which the water may be forced out by the air pumped in, and the said short pipe closed. A hole through the side of the hull will be closed in the same manner, as indicated in Fig. 5. In either case, when the openin gis wide, b ars of wood or iron will beplaced across to prevent the packing from being pressed in the hole.

The hatch-closing apparatus represented in Figs. 2 and 3 will be found very serviceable in case of storms at sea, as a protection in case the booby or other hatch is carried away, as often happens.

Other small holes may be stopped by a plug', V, India-rubber washers W, and an inilating-tube, Q, arranged to admit the air above the washer and press it snugly to the deck, the ange of the plug being nailed down to the deck.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The hatch-stopper, consisting of the two pieces A B of plank and the India-rubber sheets clamped to the under side of the hatch, the rabbeted edges of the said peees being lapped with rubberpaekiug between, all substantially as speeied.

2. The employment of a, sack, O, of exble malteralmpervous to air and water,the guards R, a sheet or ring, N, and the nating-tubes Q,

substantially in the manner described for stopping holes in the ships hull7 all substantially as speeied.

Witnesses: THOMAS COLLIER.

T. B. MOSHER,

GEO. W. MABEE. 

